Genomics for Health in Africa
Priority area: Public Health
The CoRE for Genomics for Health in Africa is a dynamic network of scientists from African and European institutions working together to harness the power of genomics to transform healthcare in Africa through capacity building.
Despite its enormous potential, genomics remains underutilized in Africa due to insufficient infrastructure, limited resources, and a lack of scientific capacity. CoRE-GHA addresses these challenges by fostering sustainable, world-class research collaborations between African and European universities. The initiative advances integrated genomics research on rare diseases, familial cancers, and infectious diseases - areas with significant and unmet clinical needs across both continents - through collaborative projects, equitable partnerships, and targeted funding opportunities.
The network brings together members with complementary expertise in genomics, bioinformatics, and structural biology to promote an integrative and multidisciplinary research approach. It also provides a vibrant platform for researchers and students from Africa and Europe to connect, collaborate, learn, and grow. Through education or training programmes, mobility schemes, and infrastructure development, CoRE-GHA is committed to training the next generation of researchers skilled in functional genomics, structural biology, and bioinformatics.
Ultimately, the initiative seeks to build a critical mass of scientific leadership in Africa that will accelerate progress toward precision medicine, drug development, and personalised healthcare on rare diseases, familial cancers, and infections.
Co-Leads
ARUA
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
- Prof. Dr med Shahida Moosa - Head of Medical Genetics, Tygerberg Hospital
- Prof. Dr Tulio de Oliveira – Director, Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation
The Guild
University of Bern, Switzerland
- Prof. Dr Carmen Faso - Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID) Co-Chair and MCID Interfaculty Lecturer
- Prof. Dr Volker Thiel - MCID Co-Chair and Professor for Virology
University of Tübingen, Germany
- Dr med Tobias Haack – Deputy-Director & Lead Physician, Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics; Center for Rare Diseases
- Prof. Dr med Olaf Riess – Director of the Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics; Center for Rare Diseases; Center for Personalized Medicine
Contact
